Virginia voters will decide on a constitutional amendment at a special election on April 21, 2026. The amendment would allow the state legislature to conduct congressional redistricting through Oct. 31, 2030. Since 1927, when the state's historic referendum data begins, Virginia has held two special elections for statewide ballot measures, in 1928 and 1956.

The most recent special election for a statewide ballot measure in Virginia was held in 1956, more than 70 years ago, when voters decided on one ballot measure.

With the upcoming special election, here is a look at the last time Virginia held a special election for a statewide ballot measure.

On Jan. 9, 1956, voters approved a ballot measure authorizing a limited constitutional convention to revise Section 141 of the Virginia Constitution to allow the General Assembly and local governments to use public funds to provide tuition grants for students attending nonsectarian private schools. The vote was 304,154 (67.5%) to 146,164 (32.5%).

In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Gov. Thomas B. Stanley (D) appointed a commission of state legislators to recommend a response to desegregation. The commission proposed several changes, including allowing state-funded tuition grants for students to attend private schools and revising constitutional provisions that restricted public funding for private education.

On November 30, 1955, Gov. Stanley convened a special legislative session, which referred the constitutional convention question to the ballot. The governor addressed the General Assembly, saying the commission's proposals attained two objectives: "(1) avoidance of enforced integration of the races in any of our public schools and (2) maintenance of educational opportunities for the boys and girls in all sections of Virginia, despite the wide variation in problems and density of white and negro population." He added, "The first, and the vital, step toward accomplishing these objectives involves amendment of Section 141 of the State Constitution."

At the time, the Virginia Constitution provided two methods for amending the Constitution. One such method, which was eliminated under the 1971 Constitution, was to ask voters to hold a constitutional convention and elect delegates, who could amend the constitution without submitting the changes to voters for ratification. The General Assembly could also limit the scope of the convention to specific provisions.

The constitutional convention convened from March 5 to March 7, 1956, approving the amendment allowing public funds for nonsectarian private school tuition grants.

Unlike the 1956 process, the 2026 special election is for a constitutional amendment that will be decided directly by voters.